Wikipedia's first sentence called it “famous persian sufi who lived in the 11th century in herat”. Today it says “sufi saint”.
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The opening as it read in 2010
Abdullah ibn Abi-Mansour Mohammad or Khajah Abdullah Ansari of Herat (1006-1088) ( ) was a famous Persian Sufi who lived in the 11th century in Herat (then Khorasan , now a city of Afghanistan ).1He is known as the Pious of Herat ( ) as he lived and died in Herat city. He is also known as "Shaikul Mashayekh" ( ) [Master of (Sufi) Masters] and his another title was "Shaikhul Islam". He was the disciple of Shaikh Abul Hassan Kharaqani , for whom he had deep respect and faith, as he has said: "Abdullah was a hidden treasure, and its key was in the hands of Abul Hassan Kharaqani ." He wrote several books on Islamic mysticism and philosophy in Persian and Arabic . His most famous work is "Munajat Namah" (literally 'Litanies or dialogues with God'), which is considered a masterpiece of Persian literature. After his death, his students and disciples compiled his teachings about the Tafsir of Quran, and named it "Kashful Asrar". This is the best and lengthiest Sufi Tafsir of Quran, being published several times in 10 volumes. He excelled in the knowledge of Hadith , history, and Ilm ul-Ansaab . He used to avoid the company of the rich, powerful and the influential. His yearly majlis-e-wa'az was attended by people from far and wide. Whatever his disciples and followers used to present to him was handed over to the poor and the needy. He is said to have had a very impressive personality, and used to dress gracefully. One of his most significant and ardent followers was Imam Ibn Taymiyah . Tomb in Herat He practiced the Hanbali fiqh , one of the four Sunni schools of law or jurisprudence . His shrine , built during the Timurid Dynasty , is a popular pilgrimage site for Persians/Tajiks.2Arthur John Arberry, "Sufism: an account of the mystics of Islam", Courier Dover Publications, 2001. pg 69: "This manual was well regarded in later times; commentaries upon it were written among others by the celebrated Persian mystic Ansari" A.3 Ravân Farhâdi, ʻAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad Anṣārī al-Harawī, "ʻAbdullāh Anṣārī of Herāt (1006-1089 C.E.): an early Ṣūfi master",Routledge, 996.
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 363378407.
The opening as it stood in 2015 14 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Stamps of Tajikistan, 2010 Hazrat Shaikh Abu Ismaïl Abdullah al-Herawi al-Ansari or Khajah Abdullah Ansari of Herat (1006–1088) ( ) also known as Pir-i Herat ( ) (sage of Herat) was a famous Persian Sufi who lived in the 11th century in Herat (then Khorasan , now Herat province, Afghanistan ).One of the outstanding figures in Khorasan in the 5th/11th century: commentator of the Koran , traditionist, polemicist, and spiritual master, known for his oratory and poetic talents in Arabic and Persian . Tomb in Herat Arthur John Arberry, "Sufism: an account of the mystics of Islam", Courier Dover Publications, 2001. pg 69: "This manual was well regarded in later times; commentaries upon it were written among others by the celebrated Persian mystic Ansari" A. Ravân Farhâdi, ʻAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad Anṣārī al-Harawī, "ʻAbdullāh Anṣārī of Herāt (1006-1089 C.E.): an early Ṣūfi master",Routledge, 996.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 660294495.
The opening as it stood in 2020 1 passage from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Abu Ismaïl Abdullah al-Herawi al-Ansari or Abdullah Ansari of Herat (1006–1088) ( ) also known as Pir-i Herat ( پیر هرات ) "Sage of Herat", was a Muslim Sufi saint who lived in the 11th century in Herat (then Khorasan , now Herat province, Afghanistan ). One of the outstanding figures in Khorasan in the 5th/11th century: commentator of the Qur'an , traditionist, polemicist, and spiritual master, known for his oratory and poetic talents in Arabic and Persian . Theology and Creed in Sunni Islam .Theology and Creed in Sunni Islam .The Invocation of God .University of Toledo, Ohio: 164. : Cite journal requires |journal= ( help ) Livnat Holtzman.Theology and Creed in Sunni Islam . Ravân Farhâdi, ʻAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad Anṣārī al-Harawī, "ʻAbdullāh Anṣārī of Herāt (1006-1089 C.E.): an early Shia Ṣūfi master", Routledge, 996.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 962697656.
The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023 1 passage from the previous snapshot no longer appear
11th-century Sufi scholar and saint Abu Ismaïl Abdullah al-Harawi al-Ansari or Abdullah Ansari of Herat (1006–1088) ( ) also known as Pir-i Herat ( پیر هرات ) "Sage of Herat", was a Muslim Sufi saint who lived in Herat (modern-day Afghanistan ).Ansari was a commentator on the Qur'an , scholar of the Hanbali school of thought ( madhhab ), traditionalist , polemicist and spiritual master, known for his oratory and poetic talents in Arabic and Persian . Theology and Creed in Sunni Islam . Theology and Creed in Sunni Islam . The Invocation of God . Essays in Arabic Literary Biography . Theology and Creed in Sunni Islam . Ravân Farhâdi, ʻAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad Anṣārī al-Harawī, "ʻAbdullāh Anṣārī of Herāt (1006-1089 C.E.): an early Shia Ṣūfi master", Routledge, 996.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1176796222.
The opening as it stood in 2025
11th-century Sufi scholar and saint Abu Ismaïl Abdullah al-Harawi al-Ansari or Abdullah Ansari of Herat (1006–1089) ( Persian : خواجه عبدالله انصاری ) also known as Pir-i Herat ( پیر هرات ) "Sage of Herat", was a Sufi saint, who lived in Herat (modern-day Afghanistan ). Ansari was a commentator on the Qur'an , scholar of the Hanbali school of thought ( madhhab ), traditionalist , polemicist and spiritual master, known for his oratory and poetic talents in Arabic and Persian . Flags of the three Persian speaking countries displayed on top: Iran , Afghanistan , and Tajikistan . Theology and Creed in Sunni Islam . Theology and Creed in Sunni Islam . The Invocation of God . Essays in Arabic Literary Biography . Theology and Creed in Sunni Islam . Ravân Farhâdi, ʻAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad Anṣārī al-Harawī, "ʻAbdullāh Anṣārī of Herāt (1006-1089 C.E.): an early Shia Ṣūfi master", Routledge, 996.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1297432202. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
Wikipedia's first sentence called it “famous persian sufi who lived in the 11th century in herat”. Today it says “sufi saint”. Read the current article and compare.
2010
2015
2020
Oct '23
2025
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What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2010, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
famous persian sufi who lived in the 11th century in herat
Now
sufi saint
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.
